EASTBOURNE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB – MATCH REPORT

SUSSEX TROPHY SEMI – FINAL - 12.01.08

EASTBOURNE 24 CHICHESTER 9.

At the 8th time of asking Eastbourne secured a place in the final of the Sussex Trophy with a win in a game played in near perfect conditions and with both sides contributing to an exciting and feisty match that was in doubt until the final quarter. The success for Eastbourne had several features, sound defence, good opportunism, an effective 10/12 channel with James Bremer and James Coulthard combining well and a tour de force from hooker Nathan Ring who scored 19 0f the 24 points.

Both sides were eager to play attacking rugby and Eastbourne took an early lead when, after an enterprising attack down the right flank, Chi infringed and Nathan Ring kicked the conversion points : 3 – 0.Chi responded with several penetrating attacks into the hosts 22, the Blue & Golds were caught off side and the Chi fly-half kicked an equalising goal: 3 – 3. Chi continued to attack and when awarded an advantage for another off side, escaped the home defence to touch the ball down between the posts, the try was disallowed as it was created by an illegal obstruction, however play reverted t the original penalty which Chi kicked to take the lead: 3 – 6. A great move involving Eastbourne’s James Bremer and James Coulthard took play deep into the Chi 22 and forced an infringement, Nathan Ring stepped up to kick the goal to bring the scores level at 6 – 6. The balance then switched again when Chi forced play down the right touchline and the Blue & Golds were deemed to have defended illegally, the Chi fly half kicked his third goal to regain Chi’s lead at 6 – 9. An immediate counter attack by Eastbourne took play to within a metre of the Chi try line, the loose ball was safely dotted down in the in-goal area but, from the resulting vapid 22 kick out, Nathan Ring fielded the ball neatly at pace and eluded the back footed defence to score the opening try, although he missed the conversion Eastbourne regained the lead at 11 – 9, which was maintained when the sides changed ends.

Chichester attacked strongly at the start of the second half but were twice frustrated, once by a great tackle by James Coulthard and once when a pass went forward with a two man overlap on the left. Coulthard then relieved this early pressure with a massive kick to touch which took play into the Chi half, a good drive by No.8 Joe Tobin followed which was stopped illegally and Nathan Ring scored his 14th. successive point with the penalty conversion to increase Eastbourne’s lead to 14 – 9. At this point Eastbourne brought on replacements as Neil Pysden took over from the injured Matt Crane on the wing and Andy Price and Gavin Farley replaced Adam Flude and Toby Spires at prop and lock respectively. Then Eastbourne had to defend in its 22 for the next 10 minutes after it was reduced to 14 men after skipper Matt Pysden was sin binned for retaliation with the Blue & Golds in a fine attacking position. Some more fine touch kicking by James Coulthard and stout defence saw Eastbourne through this sticky patch. The game was then decided when fly half James Bremer back spun a kick into the Chi 22, the ball eluded the full back and was caught by the rapidly advancing James Coulthard who scored under the posts, Nathan Ring made no mistake with the conversion to take the score out to 21 – 9. Minutes later Chi was penalised for a high tackle and Nathan Ring converted to bring his personal match tally to 19 points and the final score to 24 – 9.

MOM: A difficult choice with centre James Coulthard tackling and kicking out of the hand superbly but the accolade went to hooker Nathan Ring for an excellent all round display netting 19 points.

Team: Barron, Ring, Flude, Spires, Groenen, Varney, Oakey, Tobin, Pysden M. (c), Bremer, Crane, Coulthard, Clark, Ashworth, Keen, Pyden N., Farley , Price, and Light.